Add-on communication apparatus attached to cable installment type charging control device

ABSTRACT

An add-on communication apparatus is attached to cable installment type charging control device integrally attached to an electric vehicle charging cable assembly. A wireless communication unit wirelessly communicates with a terminal device. An infrared light receiving diode receives an infrared light having a digital pattern representing an attachment check response signal and receives an infrared light having a digital pattern representing electric vehicle charging related information from the cable installment type charging control device. An attachment check unit checks whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device on the basis of the first digital pattern. The attachment check unit changes a state of the add-on communication device on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0080747, filed on Jul. 10, 2013, the contents of which are all hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to charging of an electric vehicle.

The electric vehicle refers to a vehicle driven by using electricity, and is mainly classified into a battery powered electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle. The battery powered electric vehicle is driven by using only electricity without fossil fuel, which is generally called an electric vehicle. In addition, the hybrid electric vehicle is driven by using both of the electricity and the fossil fuel. In addition, the electric vehicle is equipped with a battery to supply electricity for driving. In particular, the battery powered electric vehicle and a plug-in type hybrid electric vehicle have batteries charged with power supplied from an external power supply, and drive an electric motor by using the power charged in the battery.

When the electric vehicle is charged with 60 Hz-commercial grid power supplied through a household socket, an electric vehicle charging cable assembly is used.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly includes a connector connected to the electric vehicle, a plug connected with the socket, and a power cable to link the connector to the plug.

Since the electric vehicle charging cable assembly is used under various environments, a cable installment type charging control device to ensure the stable charging of the electric vehicle may be provided in the electric vehicle charging cable assembly. The cable installment type charging control device is integrated with the power cable so that the cable installment type charging control device is not easily separated from the power cable by a user. In order to ensure the stable charging of the electric vehicle, the cable installment type charging control device is necessary to be strong against an external temperature, external humidity, vibration, and impact. If the cable installment type charging control device includes a connector for wired communication, the connector may include a metal port. Accordingly, the cable installment type charging control device may not satisfy the requirements described above.

However, since the user wants to check the charging state, it is necessary for the cable installment type charging control device, which is integrally attached to the electric vehicle charging cable assembly, to notify the user of the charging state.

To this end, the cable installment type charging control device may show the charging-related information or the failure information through LEDs having a predetermined color.

In other words, the user is required to personally check the cable installment type charging control device with the eyes of the user in order to obtain the charging-related information. In general, the user may want to more check the charging state under the environment that it is rainy, cold, or hot. However, the user feels inconvenient because the user goes out under the above weather situation to personally check the cable installment type charging control device with the eyes of the user.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a system, an apparatus, and a method capable of conveniently providing electric vehicle charging related information to a user.

In one embodiment, an add-on communication device attached to a cable installment type charging control device attached to an electric vehicle charging cable assembly, includes: a wireless communication unit wirelessly communicating with a terminal device; an infrared light receiving diode receiving a first infrared light having a first digital pattern, and receiving a second infrared light having a second digital pattern representing electric vehicle charging related information from the cable installment type charging control device; an attachment check unit checking whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device on the basis of the first digital pattern and changing a state of the add-on communication device on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device; and a control unit obtaining the electric vehicle charging related information from the second digital pattern, and transmitting the electric vehicle charging related information to the terminal device through the wireless communication unit.

The device may further include an infrared light emitting diode emitting a third infrared light having a third digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal, wherein the first digital pattern represents an attachment check response signal corresponding to a response to the attachment check request signal.

When the add-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the infrared light emitting diode may emit the third digital pattern according to a predetermined time pattern, until the add-on communication device is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device.

When receiving the first infrared light having the first digital pattern within a predetermined time after the third infrared light having the third digital pattern is emitted, the attachment check unit may determine that the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device, and, when not receiving the first infrared light having the first digital pattern within a predetermined time after the third infrared light having the third digital pattern is emitted, the attachment check unit may determine that the add-on communication device is not attached to the cable installment type charging control device.

The infrared light emitting diode may periodically emit the third infrared light having the third digital pattern.

A 1 bit time length of the first digital pattern may be longer than that of the second digital pattern and a 1 bit time length of the third digital pattern may be longer than that of the second digital pattern.

When the add-on communication device is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit may change a state of the add-on communication device into an active state, and, when the add-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit may change the state of the add-on communication device into an idle state.

A power consumption amount of the add-on communication device in the idle state may be smaller than that in an active state.

The attachment check unit may change a state of the wireless communication unit on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device.

When the add-on communication device is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit may change the state of the wireless communication unit into a communication enable state, and, when the add-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit may change the state of the wireless communication unit into a communication disable state.

A power consumption amount of the wireless communication unit in the communication disable state may be smaller than that in the communication enable state.

The attachment check unit may be separate hardware from the control unit and change a state of the control unit on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device.

When the add-on communication device is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit may change the state of the control unit into a normal operating state, and, when the add-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit may change the state of the control unit into an operation stop state.

A power consumption amount of the control unit in the operation stop state may be smaller than that in the normal operation state.

In another embodiment, an operation method of an add-on communication device attached to a cable installment type charging control device attached to an electric vehicle charging cable assembly, include: receiving a first infrared light having a first digital pattern; checking whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device on the basis of the first digital pattern; changing a state of the add-on communication device on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device; receiving a second infrared light having a second digital pattern representing electric vehicle charging related information from the cable installment type charging control device; obtaining the electric vehicle charging related information from the second digital pattern; and wirelessly transmitting the electric vehicle charging related information to the terminal device.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an electric vehicle charging system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle charging cable assembly according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a ladder diagram showing an operation method of electric vehicle charging system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of an electrical vehicle charging system according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electrical vehicle charging cable assembly according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an add-on communication apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram of an add-on communication device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates an operation according to elapsed time of an add-on communication apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a ladder diagram showing an operating method of an electric vehicle charging system according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, usage of suffixes such as ‘module’, ‘part’ or ‘unit’ used for referring to elements is given merely to facilitate explanation of the present invention, without having any discriminated meaning or role by itself.

A terminal device according to the embodiment may include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting receiver, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), and a navigation device. It may be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the configuration disclosed through the embodiment is applicable to a stationary terminal such as a digital TV or a desktop computer, excluding a case of being applicable only to a mobile terminal.

Hereinafter, description about a first embodiment of an electric vehicle charging system is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an electric vehicle charging system according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electric vehicle charging system 10 according to an embodiment includes an electric vehicle 100, an electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, a socket 30, and a terminal device 300.

The socket 30 provides AC power.

The electric vehicle 100 is connected to the socket 30 through the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and receives the AC power from the socket 30.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 delivers AC power from the socket 30 to the electric vehicle 100.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 includes cable installment type charging control device 200, an electric vehicle connector 21, a power cable 23, and a plug 25.

The power cable 23 delivers power. The power cable 23 may include an EV-side power cable and a grid-side power cable.

The electric vehicle connector 21 is inserted into an electric vehicle inlet 120 and connected to the electric vehicle inlet 120, and may adhere to SAE J1772 specification.

The plug 25 is inserted and connected to the socket 30.

The cable installment type charging control device 200 monitors charging the electric vehicle 100, provides charging related information obtained through the monitoring to the terminal device 300, and controls charging of the electric vehicle 100.

In an embodiment, the cable installment type charging control device 200 is fixedly and integrally attached to the power cable 23 in order not to be easily separated from the power cable 23 by the user, and has characteristics robust to an external temperature, external humidity, vibration, or impact.

In particular, the cable installment type charging control device 200 is fixedly and integrally attached to the power cable 53 in order not to be easily separated from the EV-side power cable by the user.

In addition, the cable installment type charging control device 200 is fixedly and integrally attached to the power cable 63 in order not to be easily separated from the grid-side power cable by the user.

On the other hand, in an embodiment, the cable installment type charging control device 200 may include a connector so as to be connected to or separated from the power cable 23 by the user. At this point, the connector is necessary to have characteristics robust to an external temperature, external humidity, vibration, or impact.

In particular, the cable installment type charging control device 200 may include a connector so as to be connected to or separated from the EV-side power cable by the user. At this point, the connector is necessary to have characteristics robust to an external temperature, external humidity, vibration, or impact.

In addition, the cable installment type charging control device 200 may include a connector so as to be connected to or separated from the grid-side power cable by the user. At this point, the connector is necessary to have characteristics robust to an external temperature, external humidity, vibration, or impact.

When the cable installment type charging control device 200 includes a connector for wired communication, since this connector includes a metal port, the cable installment type charging control device 200 may be weak to external environments. In order to address such an issue, the cable installment type charging control device 200 may wirelessly transmit charging related information to the terminal device 300.

The terminal device 300 wirelessly communicates in a non-contact scheme with the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and displays information related to the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle according to an embodiment.

The electric vehicle 100 includes a battery 110, a battery charging device 115, an electric vehicle inlet 120, a communication unit 130, and a control unit 140.

The battery 110 provides power for driving the electric vehicle 100 to the electric vehicle 100.

The electric vehicle inlet 120 is a connector for receiving power for charging of the battery 100 from outside. The electric vehicle inlet 120 may adhere to SAE J1772 specification.

The battery charging device 115 charges the battery 110 by using power provided through the electric vehicle inlet 120.

The communication unit 130 may communicate with the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 or the terminal device 300.

The control unit 140 controls an overall operation of the electric vehicle 100.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle charging cable assembly according to an embodiment.

As described above, the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 includes a cable installment type charging control device 200, an electric vehicle connector 21, a power cable 23, and a plug 25.

At this point, the cable installment type charging control device 200 includes a relay 220, a detecting unit 230, an electric vehicle communication unit 240, a terminal device communication unit 250, a storage unit 260, and a control unit 270.

The relay 220 controls to cut off power transmission through the power cable 23. In detail, when turned off, the relay 220 cuts off power transmission through the power cable 23. When turned on, the relay 220 provides power transmission through the power cable 23.

The detecting unit 230 detects information related to charging of the electric vehicle to be described later. In particular, the detecting unit 230 may detect all information on the electric vehicle 100 and information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. The detecting unit 230 may not detect information on the electric vehicle, but on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. In detail, the detecting unit 230 may include a relay fusion detecting unit, a current detecting unit, an internal temperature detecting unit, an internal humidity detecting unit, an external temperature unit, an external humidity detecting unit, a short circuit detecting unit, and a disconnection detecting unit. The relay fusion detecting unit may detect whether the relay 220 is fused. The current detecting unit may detect amplitude of a current flowing through the power cable 23. The internal temperature detecting unit may an internal temperature of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. The internal humidity detecting unit may detect an internal humidity of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. The external temperature detecting unit detects a surrounding temperature of the cable installment type charging control device 200. The external humidity detecting unit may detect a surrounding humidity of the cable installment type charging control device 200. The short circuit detecting unit may detect whether the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 is short-circuited. The disconnection detecting unit may detect whether the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 is disconnected.

The electric vehicle communication unit 240 performs communication with the electric vehicle 100. In detail, the electric vehicle communication unit 240 performs communication with the communication unit 130 of the electric vehicle 100. The electric vehicle communication unit 240 may perform communication with the communication unit 130 through the power cable 23 in a power-cable communication scheme. In addition, the electric vehicle communication unit 240 and the communication unit 130 may perform communication with each other through an infrared data association (IrDA) scheme, a radio frequency communication scheme, a Bluetooth scheme, an ultra wideband (UWB) scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and a digital living network alliance (DLNA) scheme.

The terminal device communication unit 250 performs communication with the terminal device 300. In detail, the terminal device communication unit 250 performs communication with a communication unit 310 of the terminal device 300. In particular, the terminal device communication unit 250 and the communication unit 310 may perform communication with each other through an IrDA scheme, a radio frequency communication scheme, a Bluetooth scheme, a UWB scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and a DLNA scheme.

The storage unit 260 stores various pieces of information to be described later. In detail, the storage unit 260 may store the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100. The storage unit 260 may store the information on the use history of the cable installment type charging control device 200. For example, the storage unit 260 may store the information on the final use time point, use time, and accumulated use time of the cable installment type charging control device 200.

The control unit 270 controls the overall operation of the cable installment type charging control device 200 together with the following operation.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a terminal device according to one embodiment.

The terminal device 300 includes the communication unit 310, an input device 320, a control unit 330, and a display unit 340.

The communication unit 310 performs communication with the terminal device communication unit 250.

The input device 320 obtains a user input. The input device 320 may include at least one of a touch screen, a physical button, a microphone for obtaining the user input in a voice type, an acceleration sensor for obtaining a motion gesture of the terminal device 300 as the user input, a keyboard, a mouse, and a keypad.

The control unit 330 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 300 together with the following operation.

The display unit 340 displays information on the charging operation and a charging state of the cable installment type charging control device 200. The display unit 340 may display information on failure of the cable installment type charging control device 200 and information on action of a user dealing with the failure. For example, the display unit 340 may display information on the charging operation and the charging state of the cable installment type charging control device 200 through visually indicating manners including at least one of characters, geometrical figures, or light, and/or acoustically indicating manners including a sound.

FIG. 5 is a ladder diagram showing an operation method of electric vehicle charging system according to an embodiment.

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 obtains the user input to issue a command to the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 through the input device 320 (operation S101). At this point, the user input for controlling the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 may include one or more of an input to start charging of the electric vehicle 100, an input to stop the charging of the electric vehicle 100, and an input to request the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100.

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 transmits a command corresponding to the obtained user input to the cable installment type charging control device 200 through the communication unit 310 (operation S103). The control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging control device 200 receives the command through the terminal device communication unit 250.

The control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging control device 200 executes the received command (operation S105).

In detail, when the command corresponding to the user input is a command to start the charging of the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging control device 200 turns on the relay 220 that has been turned off, so that the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 may supply AC power to the electric vehicle 100 through the socket 30.

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command to stop the charging of the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging control device 200 turns off the relay 220, which has been turned on, to prevent the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 from charging the electric vehicle 100.

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command to request the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging control device 200 collects the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100.

The control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging control device 200 transmits a response to the received command to the terminal device 300 through the terminal device communication unit 250 (operation S107).

When the command corresponding to the user input is the command to start the charging of the electric vehicle 100, the response may include information notifying that the relay 220 is in a turn-on state.

When the command corresponding to the user input is the command to stop the charging of the electric vehicle 100, the response may include information notifying that the relay 220 is in a turn-off state.

When the command corresponding to the user input is the command to request the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100, the response may include the collected charging related information on the electric vehicle 100.

The charging related information on the electric vehicle 100 may include at least one of information on the electric vehicle 100 and the information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20.

The information on the electric vehicle 100 may include at least one of an initial charging state, a current charging state, a charging start time, an estimated charging finish time, an actual charging finish time, charging status information on the electric vehicle 100, charging error information on the electric vehicle 100, information on the power quantity supplied to the electric vehicle 100, and the information on amplitude of current applied to the electric vehicle 100. The initial charging state and the current charging state may be represented as a ratio of a current charged power quantity to the total capacity of the battery 110. The charging status information on the electric vehicle 100 may represent that the electric vehicle 100 is in the middle of being charged with power, in the standby state for charging, or has been completely charged. The information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 may include at least one of information on the charging operation of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, information on the use history of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, state information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, and information on the failure of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. The information on the charging operation of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 represents whether the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 supplies the power, which is received through the socket 30, to the electric vehicle 100. The state information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 may include state information on the relay 220, the information on whether the relay 220 is fused, information on temperature of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, information on the short-circuit of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, information on disconnection of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, and information on surrounding environments of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. The state information on the relay 220 may represent whether the relay 220 is turned on or turned off. The information on the surrounding environments of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 may include at least one of information on the surrounding temperature and information on the surrounding humidity.

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 displays the received response on the display unit 340 (operation S109).

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command for starting the charging of the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 may display the information notifying that the relay 220 is in the turn-on state on the display unit 340.

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command for stopping the charging of the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 may display the information notifying that the relay 220 is in the turn-off state on the display unit 340.

When the command corresponding to the user input is a command for requesting the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100, the control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 may display the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100 on the display unit 340. The user may input an additional user input for controlling the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, to the terminal device 300 through the input device 320 based on the displayed charging related information on the electric vehicle 100.

As described above, the information on the charging operation and the state information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 are displayed through the terminal device 300. Accordingly, the user may simply and easily recognize the information on the charging operation and the state information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. In addition, the user more easily determines the failure of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and the failed part of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 based on the state information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, so that the user can easily take an action of dealing with the failure. For example, when the ground line is short-circuited between the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and the power supply, the short-circuited ground line is difficult to detect according to the related art. However, according to the embodiment, the detecting unit 230 detects and displays the disconnection state, so that the user stops the charging of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and repairs the disconnected part or requests the repair for the disconnected part. In particular, when the information on the failure of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and the information on the action of dealing with the failure are transmitted to the terminal device 300 from the cable installment type charging control device 200, the user can more simply and easily detect the failure of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and take an action of dealing with the failure. Accordingly, the user can recognize in advance that the electric vehicle 100 is not charged due to the failure of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20. In addition, for example, if the use history of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 is transmitted to the terminal device 300, the user can estimate in advance the life span of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and prepare an additional electric vehicle charging cable assembly.

On the other hand, frequent uses under an inferior environment cause the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 to be frequently repaired or replaced. However, when the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 includes the cable installment type charging control device 200 including relatively expensive terminal device communication unit 250, it is more difficult to repair the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 due to the characteristics of the cable installment type charging control device 200 manufactured to have the characteristics robust to an external temperature, external humidity, vibration, and impact, and a replacement cost may be increased.

In order to address the above-described issue, the terminal device communication unit 250 may be separated from the cable installment type charging control device 200. Such an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of an electrical vehicle charging system according to another embodiment

Referring to FIG. 6, an electric vehicle charging system 10 according to an embodiment includes an electric vehicle 100, an electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20, a socket 30, a terminal device 300, and an add-on communication device 400.

Since the socket 30 and the electric vehicle 100 according to the embodiment are similar to those of the previous embodiment of FIG. 1, the details thereof will be omitted.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 transmits AC power to the electric vehicle 100 from the socket 30.

The electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 includes a cable installment type charging control device 200, an electric vehicle connector 21, a power cable 23, and a plug 25.

Since the power cable 23, the electric vehicle connector 21, and the plug 25 according to the embodiment are the same as or similar to those of the previous embodiment of FIG. 1, the details thereof will be omitted.

The cable installment type charging control device 200 monitors the charging of the electric vehicle 100, and provides the charging related information obtained through the monitoring to the add-on communication device 400, thereby controlling the charging of the electric vehicle 100. The cable installment type charging control device 200 is integrally attached to the power cable 23 in order not to be easily separated from the power cable 23 by a user. The cable installment type charging control device 200 has the characteristics robust to an external temperature, external humidity, vibration, and impact. When the cable installment type charging control device 200 includes a connector for wired communication, since the connector includes a metal port, the cable installment type charging control device 200 may be weak to external environments. In order to address the above issue, the cable installment type charging control device 200 may perform wireless communication with the add-on communication device 400.

The terminal device 300 performs wireless communication with the add-on communication device 400 in a non-contact scheme and displays the information on the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20.

The add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200. At this point, the add-on communication device 400 may be mechanically coupled with the cable installment type charging control device 200. In addition, the add-on communication device 400 may be attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200 by a magnetic force.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle charging cable assembly according to another embodiment.

As described above, the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 includes the cable installment type charging control device 200, the electric vehicle connector 21, the power cable 23, and the plug 25.

At this point, the cable installment type charging control device 200 includes an add-on device communication unit 210, a relay 220, a detecting unit 230, an electric vehicle communication unit 240, a storage unit 260, and a control unit 270. When comparing with the embodiment of FIG. 3, the cable installment type charging control device 200 shown in FIG. 7 further includes the add-on device communication unit 210. In addition, although the cable installment type charging control device 200 shown in FIG. 7 may not include the terminal device communication unit 250 in order to reduce the price and the repair cost, the cable installment type charging control device 200 may include the terminal device communication unit 250 according to various applications.

Since the relay 220, the detecting unit 230, the electric vehicle communication unit 240, the storage unit 260, and the control unit 270 according to the embodiment are the same as or similar to those of the embodiment of FIG. 3, or may be described later.

The add-on device communication unit 210 performs communication with the add-on communication device 400. The add-on device communication unit 210 and the add-on communication device 400 may perform communication with each other through an IrDA scheme, a radio frequency communication scheme, a Bluetooth scheme, a UWB scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and a DLNA scheme.

In particular, in order to reduce the price of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and the add-on communication device 400, the add-on device communication unit 210 may adopt the IrDA scheme. At this point, the add-on device communication unit 210 may include an infrared light emitting diode and an infrared light receiving diode.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an add-on communication device according to an embodiment.

The add-on communication device 400 includes an attachment check request signal generating unit 410, an attachment check unit 420, a charging control device communication unit 440, a terminal communication unit 450, a storage unit 460, and a control unit 470.

The charging control device communication unit 440 performs communication with the cable installment type charging control device 200. In detail, the charging control device communication unit 440 performs communication with the add-on device communication unit 210 of the cable installment type charging control device 200. The charging control device communication unit 440 and the add-on device communication unit 210 may perform communication with each other through an IrDA scheme, a radio frequency communication scheme, a Bluetooth scheme, a UWB scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and a DLNA scheme.

In order to reduce the price of the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 and the add-on communication device 400, the charging control device communication unit 440 may employ the IrDA scheme. At this point, the charging control device communication unit 440 may include an infrared light emitting diode 441 and an infrared light receiving diode 442.

When the add-on communication device 400 is normally attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200, positions of the infrared light emitting diode 441 and the infrared light receiving diode 442 of the charging control device communication unit 440 are matched with the infrared light receiving diode and the infrared light emitting diode of the add-on device communication unit 210 of the cable installment type charging control device 200, respectively.

The terminal communication unit 450 performs communication with the terminal device 300. In detail, the terminal communication unit 450 performs communication with the communication unit 310 of the terminal device 300. In detail, the terminal communication unit 450 and the communication unit 310 may perform communication with each other through an IrDA scheme, a radio frequency communication scheme, a Bluetooth scheme, a UWB scheme, a ZigBee scheme, and a DLNA scheme.

The storage unit 460 stores following information. In detail, the storage unit 460 may store the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100. The storage unit 460 may store information on the use history of the cable installment type charging control device 200. For example, the storage unit 460 may store information on a final use time point, use time, and accumulated use time of the cable installment type charging control device 200.

The control unit 470 controls an overall operation of the add-on communication device 400 together with the following operation.

Since the add-on communication device 400 is not directly and electrically connected to the cable installment type charging control device 200, the add-on communication device 400 is necessary to additionally receive power. However, when a user does not use the add-on communication device 400, the user may not cut off the power supplied to the add-on communication device 400. Accordingly, since the unnecessary power consumption is increased, a scheme of minimizing power consumption is required when the add-on communication device 400 is not used.

Hereinafter, a state change of the add-on communication device 400 according to an embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram of the add-on communication device according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates an operation of the add-on communication device as time passes according to an embodiment.

The add-on communication device 400 has an idle state ST100 and an active state ST200.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the idle state ST100, a power consumption amount of the add-on communication device 400 is smaller than that in the active state ST200.

The idle state ST100 includes an attachment check state ST110 and an attachment check standby state ST120. As illustrated in FIG. 10, a response standby time corresponding to a time length of the attachment check state ST110 may be shorter than attachment check standby time corresponding to a time length of the attachment check standby state ST120. In the attachment check standby state ST120, the power consumption amount of the add-on communication device 400 is smaller than that in the attachment check state ST 110.

The infrared light emitting diode 441 in the attachment check state ST110 of the idle state ST100 emits an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal. When it is not determined that the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the built-in charging control device 200, the infrared light emitting diode 441 may emit an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal according to a predetermined time pattern, until it is determined that the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the built-in charging control device 200. At this point, the predetermined time pattern may have a certain period. That is, the infrared light emitting diode 441 may periodically emit an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal. Furthermore, after the add-on communication device 200 is determined as attached to the built-in charging control device 200, the infrared light emitting diode 441 may emit the infrared light having the predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check request signal according the predetermined time pattern.

In an embodiment, in both cases before and after the add-on communication device 200 is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200, the infrared light emitting diode 441 may emit an infrared light having a predetermined identical digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal. At this point, the attachment check request signal generating unit 410 is responsible for generation of the digital pattern used for emission. The attachment check request signal generating unit 410 may be separate hardware from the control unit 470.

In another embodiment, the digital pattern of the infrared light emitted before the add-on communication device 400 is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200 may be different from the digital pattern of the infrared light emitted after the add-on communication device 400 is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200. At this point, the attachment check request signal generating unit 410 is responsible for generation of the digital pattern of the infrared light emitted before the add-on communication device 400 is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200. In addition, the control unit 470 may be responsible for generation of the digital pattern of the infrared light emitted after the add-on communication device 400 is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200. The attachment check request signal generating unit 410 may be separate hardware from the control unit 470.

When the add-on communication device 400 is normally attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200, the cable installment type charging control device 200 receives an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal and emits an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing an attachment check response signal. Through this, the infrared light receiving diode 442 of the add-on communication device 400 may receive an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check response signal.

The attachment check unit 420 checks whether the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200 on the basis of a predetermined digital pattern representing an attachment check response signal, and changes a state of the add-on communication device 200 on the basis of whether the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200. In detail, when receiving an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing the normal attachment check response signal within a response standby time which is a predetermined time after an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check request signal is emitted, the attachment check unit 420 may determine that the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200. When not receiving the infrared light having the predetermined digital pattern representing the normal attachment check response signal within the response standby time which is the predetermined time after the infrared light having the predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check request signal is emitted, the attachment check unit 420 may not determine that the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200.

In the attachment check state ST110, when the add-on communication device 400 is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200, the attachment check unit 420 may change the state of the add-on communication device 400 into the active state ST200.

In the attachment check state ST110, when the add-on communication device 400 is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200, the attachment check unit 420 may change the state of the add-on communication device 400 into the attachment check standby state ST120.

After a predetermined time passes from a time of entering the attachment check standby state ST120, the attachment check unit 420 may change the state of the add-on communication device 400 into the attachment check state ST 110.

In the active state ST 200, when receiving an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing the normal attachment check response signal within the response standby time which is a predetermined time after an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal is emitted, the attachment check unit 420 may maintain the state of the add-on communication device 400 as the active state ST200.

In the active state ST 200, when not receiving the infrared light having the predetermined digital pattern representing the normal attachment check response signal within the response standby time which is the predetermined time after the infrared light having the predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check request signal is emitted, the attachment check unit 420 may change the state of the add-on communication device 400 into the attachment check standby state ST120 of the idle state ST100.

In the active state ST200, the attachment check unit 420 may leave the state of the terminal communication unit 450 as a communication enable state and the state of the control unit 470 as a normal operating state. In the idle state ST100, the attachment check unit 420 may leave the state of the terminal communication unit 450 as a communication disable state and the state of the control unit 470 as an operation stop state.

In the communication disable state, a power consumption amount of the terminal communication unit 450 is smaller than that in the communication enable state. In the operation stop state, a power consumption amount of the control unit 470 is smaller than that in the normal operation state.

The attachment check unit 420 may change the state of the terminal communication unit 450 on the basis of whether the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200. In detail, when the add-on communication device 400 is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200, the attachment check unit 420 may change the state of the terminal communication unit 450 into the communication enable state. When the add-on communication device 400 is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200, the attachment unit 420 may change the state of the terminal communication unit 450 into the communication disable state.

On the other hand, the attachment unit 420 may be separate hardware from the control unit 470. At this point, the attachment check unit 420 may change the state of the terminal communication unit 450 on the basis of whether the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200. In detail, when the add-on communication device 400 is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging check device 200, the attachment unit 420 may change the state of the control unit 470 into the normal operating state. When the add-on communication device 400 is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging check device 200, the attachment unit 420 may change the state of the control unit 470 into the operation stop state.

In the active state ST200, the control unit 470 exchanges various pieces of information with the cable installment type charging control device 200 through the charging control device communication unit 440.

In an embodiment, a 1 bit length of a digital pattern representing information exchanged in the active state ST200 may be the same as that in the idle state ST100.

In another embodiment, the 1 bit length of the digital pattern representing information exchanged in the idle state ST100 may be longer than that in the active state ST200. Since information exchanged in the idle state ST100 corresponds to the attachment check request and attachment check response, an information amount is not great. If the 1 bit length of the digital pattern becomes shorter, a frequency increases and power consumption is higher, which may not be appropriate to the idle state ST100. Furthermore, since an information amount exchanged in the active state ST200 is relatively great, the one bit length of the digital pattern is necessary to be shortened.

FIG. 11 is a ladder diagram illustrating an operation method of the electric vehicle charging system 10 according to another embodiment.

Firstly, the add-on communication device 400 is in the idle state ST 100 (operation S301).

When the attachment check state ST110 arrives in the idle state ST100, the attachment detecting signal generating unit 410 of the add-on communication device 400 generates an attachment check request signal (operation S302). The attachment detecting signal generating unit 410 may generate a predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check request signal.

In the attachment check state ST110 of the idle state ST100, the charging control device communication unit 440 of the add-on communication device 400 transmits the attachment check request signal (operation S303). In an embodiment, the infrared light emitting diode 441 of the charging control device communication unit 440 may emit an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check request signal.

In the attachment check state St110 of the idle state ST100, the charging control device communication unit 440 of the add-on communication device 400 receives the attachment check response signal from the cable installment type charging control device 200 (operation S305). In an embodiment, the infrared light receiving diode 442 of the charging control device communication unit 440 may receive the infrared light having the digital pattern represent the attachment check response signal.

The attachment check unit 420 of the add-on communication device 400 checks whether the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type communication device 400 on the basis of the attachment check response signal (operation S307). As described above, when receiving an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check response signal within a response standby time which is a predetermined time after an infrared light having a predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check request signal is emitted, the attachment check unit 420 may determine that the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200. When not receiving the infrared light having the predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check response signal within the response standby time which is the predetermined time after the infrared light having the predetermined digital pattern representing the attachment check request signal is emitted, the attachment check unit 420 may determine that the add-on communication device 400 is not attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200.

When determining that the add-on communication device 400 is attached to the cable installment type charging control device 200 on the basis of the attachment check response signal, the attachment check unit 420 of the add-on communication device 400 changes the state of the add-on communication device 400 into the active state ST200 (operation S309).

The terminal communication unit 450 of the add-on communication device 400 transmits, to the terminal device 300, an event message notifying that the state of the add-on communication device 400 is changed into the active state ST200 (operation S311).

The terminal device 300 displays that charging related control of the electric vehicle is possible on the basis of the message notifying that the state of the add-on communication device 400 has been changed into the active state ST200 (operation S313).

Furthermore, the control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 obtains a user input for commanding the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 through the input device 320 (operation S315). At this point, the user input for controlling the electric vehicle charging cable assembly 20 may include one or more of an input to start charging of the electric vehicle 100, an input to stop the charging of the electric vehicle 100, and an input to request the charging related information on the electric vehicle 100.

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 transmits a command corresponding to the obtained user input to the add-on communication device 400 through the communication unit 310 (operation S317). The add-on communication device 400 in the active state may receive a command from the terminal device 300.

The add-on communication device 400 in the active state transmits the received command to the cable installment type charging control device 200 through the charging control device communication unit 440 (operation S319). The infrared light emitting diode 441 of the charging control device communication device 440 may emit an infrared light having a digital pattern corresponding to the received command.

The control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging control device 200 executes the received command (operation S321). Since the operation described in operation S105 may be applied to the operation described in operation S321, detailed description about operation S321 is omitted.

The control unit 270 of the cable installment type charging control device 200 transmits a response corresponding to the received command to the add-on communication device 400 through the add-on device communication unit 210 (operation S323). The infrared light emitting diode of the add-on device communication unit 210 of the cable installment type charging control device 200 may emit an infrared light having a digital pattern corresponding to a response to the receive command. The add-on communication device 400 in the active state may receive a response from the terminal device 300. Since the operation described in operation S107 may be applied to the operation described in the operation S323, additional description about the operation S323 is omitted.

The control unit 470 of the add-on communication device 400 in the active state transmits the received response to the terminal device 300 through the terminal device communication unit 450 (operation S325).

The control unit 330 of the terminal device 300 displays the received response on the display unit 340 (operation S327). Since the operation described in operation S109 may be applied to the operation described in the operation S327, detailed description about the operation S327 is omitted.

According to an embodiment, the above-described method can be embodied as processor readable codes on a program recorded medium. Examples of the processor readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices, and carrier waves (such as data transmission through the Internet).

The above-described embodiments can be applied individually to products, but also the whole embodiments or parts of the embodiments can be selectively combined and applied to products through various variations and modifications.

The embodiment is to maintain the characteristics of the cable installment type charging control device manufactured to have the characteristics robust to an external temperature, external humidity, vibration, and impact, to facilitate the repair for the cable installment type charging control device, and to conveniently provide the charging-related information on the electric vehicle to a user without increasing the cost when the cable installment type charging control device is replaced with new one.

The embodiment is to minimize power consumption when power supplied to the unused add-on communication apparatus is not cut off.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An add-on communication device attached to a cable installment type charging control device attached to an electric vehicle charging cable assembly, comprising: a wireless communication unit wirelessly communicating with a terminal device; an infrared light receiving diode receiving a first infrared light having a first digital pattern, and receiving a second infrared light having a second digital pattern representing electric vehicle charging related information from the cable installment type charging control device; an attachment check unit checking whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device on the basis of the first digital pattern and changing a state of the add-on communication device on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device; and a control unit obtaining the electric vehicle charging related information from the second digital pattern, and transmitting the electric vehicle charging related information to the terminal device through the wireless communication unit.
 2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an infrared light emitting diode emitting a third infrared light having a third digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal, wherein the first digital pattern represents an attachment check response signal corresponding to a response to the attachment check request signal.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein, when the add-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the infrared light emitting diode emits the third digital pattern according to a predetermined time pattern, until the add-on communication device is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein, when receiving the first infrared light having the first digital pattern within a predetermined time after the third infrared light having the third digital pattern is emitted, the attachment check unit determines that the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device, and when not receiving the first infrared light having the first digital pattern within a predetermined time after the third infrared light having the third digital pattern is emitted, the attachment check unit determines that the add-on communication device is not attached to the cable installment type charging control device.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the infrared light emitting diode periodically emits the third infrared light having the third digital pattern.
 6. The device according to claim 2, wherein a 1 bit time length of the first digital pattern is longer than that of the second digital pattern and a 1 bit time length of the third digital pattern is longer than that of the second digital pattern.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when the add-on communication device is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit changes a state of the add-on communication device into an active state, and, when the add-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit changes the state of the add-on communication device into an idle state.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a power consumption amount of the add-on communication device in the idle state is smaller than that in an active state.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment check unit changes a state of the wireless communication unit on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device.
 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein, when the add-on communication device is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit changes the state of the wireless communication unit into a communication enable state, and, when the add-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit changes the state of the wireless communication unit into a communication disable state.
 11. The device according to claim 10, where a power consumption amount of the wireless communication unit in the communication disable state is smaller than that in the communication enable state.
 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment check unit is separate hardware from the control unit and changes a state of the control unit on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device.
 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein, when the add-on communication device is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit changes the state of the control unit into a normal operating state, and, when the add-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the attachment check unit changes the state of the control unit into an operation stop state.
 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein a power consumption amount of the control unit in the operation stop state is smaller than that in the normal operation state.
 15. An operation method of an add-on communication device attached to a cable installment type charging control device attached to an electric vehicle charging cable assembly, the method comprising: receiving a first infrared light having a first digital pattern; checking whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device on the basis of the first digital pattern; changing a state of the add-on communication device on the basis of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device; receiving a second infrared light having a second digital pattern representing electric vehicle charging related information from the cable installment type charging control device; obtaining the electric vehicle charging related information from the second digital pattern; and wirelessly transmitting the electric vehicle charging related information to the terminal device.
 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising emitting a third infrared light having a third digital pattern representing an attachment check request signal, wherein the first digital pattern represents an attachment check response signal corresponding to a response to the attachment check request signal.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, when the add-on communication device is not determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device, the infrared light emitting diode emits the third digital pattern according to a predetermined time pattern, until the add-on communication device is determined as attached to the cable installment type charging control device.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the checking of whether the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device on the basis of the first digital pattern comprises, when receiving the first infrared light having the first digital pattern within a predetermined time after the third infrared light having the third digital pattern is emitted, determining that the add-on communication device is attached to the cable installment type charging control device, and when not receiving the first infrared light having the first digital pattern within a predetermined time after the third infrared light having the third digital pattern is emitted, determining that the add-on communication device is not attached to the cable installment type charging control device.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the emitting of the third infrared light having the third digital pattern comprises periodically emitting the third infrared light having the third digital pattern.
 20. The method according to claim 16, wherein a 1 bit time length of the first digital pattern is longer than that of the second digital pattern and a 1 bit time length of the third digital pattern is longer than that of the second digital pattern. 